Method of incorporating a. shank stiffener with a shoe sole



March 1, 1927. 1,619,648

R. 5 BARTELs METHOD OF INCORPORATING A SHANK STIFFENER WITH A SHOE SGLE Filed May 11, 1922 Patented Mar. 1, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REIN'I-IARD E. BARTELS, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

METHOD OF INGORPORATING A SHANK STIFFENER WITH A SHOE SOLE.

Application fiIerl May 11,

In my Patent N 0. 1,237,152 granted April 11, 1917, is disclosed the idea of simultaneously molding a sole and shank stiffener,

the stiffener being attached to the sole prior to the molding operation. The present in vention relates to a modification of this process in which it is not necessary to attach the stiffener to the sole before the molding operation, the stiffener being molded to alateral curvature previous to its incorporation with the sole so that it centers itself automatically relative to the sole in the molding press. The mold then effects the longitudinal molding of the sole and stiffener and the lateral molding of the sole simultaneously and only a sufficient amount of lateral molding of the stiffener to cause it to conform exactly to the mold.

According to the present method the stiffener is prevented from slipping out of place on the sole when being molded, due to the engagement therewith of the angular surface of one of the mold members.

For a more complete understanding of this invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 shows a sole blank with the stiffener positioned thereon.

Figure 2 is a central vertical cross section through the mold showing the mold and stiffener in position therein.

Figure 3 is a central longitudinal section through the molded sole and stiffener.

Figures 1- and 5 are sections along the line ww of Figure 3 illustrating soles having different amounts of lateral curvature.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the stifiener as prepared for incorporation with the sole.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1 and 6, a substantially rectangular metal blank 1 has formed adjacent its ends portions as 2 and 3 struck therefrom to form attaching prongs by which the stiffener may be attached to the sole. Between these prongs the blank is also given a lateral curvature as shown at 4. The sole, indicated at 5, is then placed in position within a molding press, the dies of this ress being shown in section at 6 and 7 in igure 2. Before the die 6 is placed in posi tion against the sole the stiffener, curved laterally, but straight longitudinally, is placed in position on the sole, the concave side being outward, and the prongs 2 and 3 extending toward the sole. The dies 6 and 1922. Serial No. 560,010.

7 are formed both longitudinally and laterally according to the desired configuration of the molded sole, the longitudinal configuration being shown in Figure 2 and the lateral configuration, varying in individual cases, conforming to the cross sections through the molded sole as shown in Figures ff: and 5. The concave portion of the stiffener is then engaged by the convex por tion of the die member 6 so that it is retained in its position laterally during the molding operation at which timealso the prongs 2 and 3 are driven into the sole and clinched therein. Should the lateral curvature of the molding dies be greater than that preliminarily imparted to the stiffener, an additional lateral bending to conform to the mold is produced during the molding operation, while should the lateral curvature of the dies be flatter than that of the stiffener, the stiffener will be flattened to conform to this lateral curvature. These two conditions are illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. In any case, however, the engagement of the die member 6 and the concave side of the stiffener prevents the stiffener from slipping laterally during the molding operation.

If desired, also, the sole may be recessed to receive the stiffener, as shown in Patent No. 1,237,152 above referred to.

Having thus described an embodiment of this invention it should be evident that various changes and modifications might be made therein Without departing from its spirit or scope as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. That improvement in the art of shoemaking which comprises assembling a shank stifiener previously molded to a lateral curvature approximately that of the finished sole on a sole, and then molding both sole and stiffener laterally and longitudinally.

2. That improvement in the art of shoemaking which comprises assembing a shank stiffener, previously molded to a lateral curvature but fiat longitudinally and provided with sole-attaching prongs, on a shoe sole, and then molding both sole and stiffener laterally and longitudinally and attaching the stiffner and sole together by said prongs.

3. That improvement in the art of shoemaking which comprises assembling a shank stiffener fiat longitudinally and previously molded to a lateral curvature approximately that of the finished sole on a sole, and then molding both sole and stiffener simultaneously laterally and longitudinally.

4. That improvement in the art of shoemaking which comprises assembing a shank stifi'ener, previously molded to a lateral curvature but fiat longitudinally and provided with sole attaching prongs, on a shoe sole, and then molding both sole and stillener simultaneously laterally and longitudinally and attaching the stiffener and sole together by said prongs.

5. That improvement in the art of shoemaking which consists in molding a metal strip with a lateral curvature and substantially straight lengthwise, assembling said strip REINHARD E. BARTELS. 

